Teacher Demonstration Desk

ABSTRACT

A desk is disclosed for use by teachers. The desk has a fixed-height portion which remains stationary as well as an adjustable-height portion which can be raised and lowered as needed to allow students to view objects on the desk such as experiments being performed when the adjustable-height portion is in a raised position and to see the space behind the desk, which may contain a blackboard, white board, or other object which students would wan to view, when the adjustable-height portion is in a lowered position.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to desks for teachers for use in classrooms.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In current classroom environments, teachers' desks can pose a problem in the classroom. If a teacher's desk is low, it can be impractical for a teacher to use the desk to perform laboratory experiments, as students cannot see the experiment being performed. Additionaly, a low teacher's desk takes up space in a room, so low teachers' desks which are not usable for experiments must frequently be put in a corner of a classroom or in another room to make room for laboratory tables, one of which the teacher must use. On the other hand, if a teacher's desk is high, such as a laboratory table used as a teacher's desk, it can block students' view of things behind the desk. Frequently, a classroom will be oriented such that a blackboard, white board, projection screen, or other important piece of classroom equipment will be placed behind a teacher's desk which the students will need to see. A high teacher's desk can impede visibility of that piece of equipment for the students in a classroom. Ideally, a teacher's desk will be usable both for demonstrating experiments and for performing a teacher's other work without consistently impeding the view of the wall behind the desk.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

We disclose a desk for use in classroom environments. The desk has a base, an adjustable-height desk surface in the middle which may be raised and lowered, and a fixed-height surface on one or both sides for use with parts of the desk that should remain stationary, such as a sink. The desk has three telescoping legs attached to the adjustable-height desk surface that serve to raise and lower the surface as necessary allowing for demonstration of experiments when the adjustable-height desk surface is in a raised position and for viewing of the wall or other things behind the desk when in a lowered position. A motor, which is attached to the legs, causes them to be raised or lowered when a signal is sent to the motor to do so.

Optionally, the base can house drawers or cabinets. Also, the adjustable-height desk surface can have receptacles for receiving laboratory rods for use in performing experiments. The adjustable-height desk surface or the fixed-height surface or both can be made of a heat and chemical resistant material to protect them from bunsen burners and chemical spills. The desk can have a generally planar or angled face depending on the geometry of the classroom, where the desk is to be placed, and how much room there is to accommodate the desk. In a preferred embodiment, the adjustable-height desk surface is the same height as the fixed-height surface when it is lowered and higher when it is raised.

The desk solves the problem of being usable both for demonstrating experiments and for performing a teacher's other work without consistently impeding the view of the wall behind the desk by having the adjustable-height desk surface which may be easily raised and lowered as needed to accommodate performing of experiments or viewing of the area behind the desk.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete appreciation of the present invention and many attendant advantages thereof will be readily understood by reference to the following detailed description of the invention when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a front plan view of the desk.

FIG. 2 illustrates a right side plan view of the desk.

FIG. 3 illustrates a left side plan view of the desk.

FIG. 4 illustrates a back plan view of the desk.

FIG. 5 illustrates an top plan view of the desk.

FIG. 6 illustrates an bottom plan view of the desk.

FIG. 7 illustrates a perspective view of the desk from below and to the right.

FIG. 8 illustrates a perspective view of the desk from above and to the left in one embodiment where the desk is straight.

FIG. 9 illustrates a perspective view of the desk from above and to the left in an alternative embodiment where the desk is curved.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

In reference to the drawings, there is shown a desk 1 having a base 2, an adjustable-height desk surface 3, and one or more fixed-height surfaces 4. At least three telescoping legs 5 support the adjustable-height desk surface 3 and are driven by a motor, not shown. An example of telescoping legs 5 which would work for the present invention would be those sold by Linak® under the name Desklift DL6 being controlled by Linak® control box CBD4. A sink 12 is disposed in the fixed-height surface 4 for use in performing laboratory experiments.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the desk 1 can have drawers 6 or cabinets 7 disposed in the base for storage. Also in a preferred embodiment of the invention, the adjustable-height desk surface 3 can have holes 8 therein for receiving laboratory rods 9 for use in the performing of laboratory experiments.

The desk 1 can have a generally-planar face 10 as shown in FIGS. 1-8 or an angled face 11 as shown in FIG. 9. The curvature of the desk can depend on the size and orientation of the classroom in which it is to be used.

It should be understood that the foregoing represents merely an exemplary embodiment of the disclosed desk and that various changes and modifications can be made in the arrangements and details of construction of the elements described and shown herein without departing from the spirit and the scope of the present invention. 

We claim:
 1. A desk, said desk comprising: (a) a base; (b) an adjustable-height desk surface; (c) said adjustable-height desk surface mounted on at least three telescoping legs; (d) a motor for raising and lowering said adjustable-height desk surface above said base without requiring locking of said telescoping legs into position; and (e) a fixed-height surface affixed to said base.
 2. The desk of claim 1 wherein said base houses drawers.
 3. The desk of claim 1 wherein said base houses a cabinet.
 4. The desk of claim 1 wherein said adjustable-height desk surface comprises receptacles for receiving laboratory rods.
 5. The desk of claim 1 wherein said base has a generally-planar face.
 6. The desk of claim 1 wherein said base has an angled face.
 7. The desk of claim 1 wherein said adjustable-height desk surface is comprised of a heat and chemical resistant material.
 8. The desk of claim 1 wherein said fixed-height surface is comprised of a heat and chemical resistant material.
 9. The desk of claim 1 wherein said adjustable-height desk surface is the same height as the fixed-height surface when said adjustable-height desk surface is in a lowered position.
 10. The desk of claim 1 further comprising a sink located in said fixed-height desk surface. 